Traffic signal for motor vehicles



Jan. 5, 1926. I 1,568,862

D. L. ALBRIGHT TRAFFIC SIGNAL FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed Jan. 4, 1923 12 V Jung? MLA/M 2" Patented Jan. 5, 1926.

DELL L. ALBRIGH'r, F HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA.

TRAFFIC SIGNAL I OR MOTOR VEHICLES.

Application filed January 4, 1923. Serial- No. 610,600.

1 '0 all whomit may concern:

Be it known that I, DELL L. ALBRIGHT, a

@citi-zen of the United States, residing at Hollywood, in the county of LosAngeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Trafiic Signals for Motor Vehicles, of which the following nis a specification.

Hy present invention relates to a traflic signal for motor vehicles, or the like, it being a special object of my invention to provide, at moderate cost, a signal suitable for use at night.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a signal which shall constitute a unitsuitable for separate manufacture and sale and capable of being easily applied to any motor. vehicle provided with a light socket upon the dashboard thereof, or elsewhere within convenient reach.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a signal which can be quickly attached and detached from the vehicle and which can be worn by the driver or operative of any vehicle without inconvenience, and without constituting a hindrance to the free use of the hand of the operative in turning the steering wheel, or otherwise.

It is a further object of my invention to providea traffic signal of the character re ferred to which may be easily assembled from constituent parts which are already obtainable as articles of commerce, and

which are capable of being united by simple means, not requiring an extensive outlay for tools or materials, and not requiring unusual skill in the association of said parts.

Further objects of my invention will appear from the following description and the claims appended thereto, it being understood that parts of my invention may be independently used, and that various modifications may be made without departure from the spirit and scope of my invention as the same is indicated in said description and claims.

It is believed that the general character of my invention will be readily understood from the following description of a specific embodiment thereof taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a general view of my trafiic signal as the same may be attached to the back of the hand of an operative and connected by a flexible cord to any convenient light socket, such as a light socket in the dashboard of a motor vehicle.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the device shown infFig. 1, the ends of two fingers and. the thumb of an operative being also shown.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section approximately on the line 38 of Fig. 2, no fingers being shown. I U The form of my invention which I have chosen for specific illustration may be said to comprise an encircling element 1, adapted to be carried upon the front and second fingers of the operative, to which is connected an electric light socket 2, of acharacter now readily obtainable uponthe market, I

this socket being adapted to receive anincandescent bulb 8. Upon the encircling element 1 I prefer to provide circuit closing means WhlOll may comprise a resilient arm 4,

secured thereto but insulated therefrom as shown at 5. This circuit closing means may be connected with one wire of a flexiblecord 6, the other wire of this cord being shown as led directly into the rear end of the socket 2. The encircling element 1 being of coni ductive material and being in conductive contact with the socket 2, it will be understoodthat upon such depression of the resilientarm 4 as to bring the terminal portion thereof into contact with the mentioned encircling element 1, current will pass from one wire of the flexible cord 6, which may be secured by a nut 7 and the bolt 8 passing through the arm 4: and the encircling element 1 and insulated from the latter. The current will then pass through the socket 2 into and through the filament within the bulb 3 and out through the other wire of the flexible cord 6.

It will be obvious that the mentioned bulb 3 may be of red or other colored glass, but I find it sometimes advantageous to employ a separate element such as a bulls-eye 9- of colored glass, and this element may be of ruby glass such as is now readily obtainable upon the market. When I use a bulls-eye. this may be secured in any convenient way, and I have shown it as secured by means of a metallic flange 10 and a wire 11 bent into conformity with the outline of the bulls-eye, and secured, as by soldering, to the socket 2, the flange being shown as fitting over the edge ofv the bulls-eye and secured to the wire a mere depression of the arm 4 will cause a suitable signal to be given. I have shown the device as worn upon the index finger and the middle finger of the left hand, and when so worn the device leaves the hand of the operative free for use upon the steering wheel or elsewhere, and the arm 14 is conveniently placed to be depressed by the thumb of the same hand. It will, however, be understood that my signalling element may be worn upon a single linger and may also be adapted to be worn upon other fingers than those referred to and the contact means may be adapted to be depressed in any convenient way, as by other digits than the thumb. The application of tape at 12, or elsewhere, is, of course, optional.

What I claim is:

1. In a trafiic signal, a supporting means attachable to the first and second fingers of an operator, an electric light socket supported by said means, a switch connected to the supporting means, adapted to be operated by the operators thumb, a Wire bent in the form of a loop and having extended ends secured to the socket, a flange secured to the loop and a glass positioned therein over the end of the socket.

' 2. A traflic signal comprising in, combination a securing element adapted to encircle a plurality of fingers of a hand, an electric lamp socket attached to said securing element and positioned to extend parallel to the fingers, an electric bulb in the socket, a loop formed of Wire having a pair of ends extending parallel to the socket, means securing said ends to the socket, a flange secured to the loop, a glass held in the flange away from the lamp whereby the light from the lamp may illuminate a persons hand and be transmitted through the glass.

3. A trafiic signal comprising a securing element adapted to encircle a plurality of fingers ot' a hand, an electric lamp socket secured to said securing element and positioned to be located parallel to the lingers, a lamp in said socket, a wire loop having a pair of projecting ends, the ends being secured to the socket, a concavo convex lens mounted on the loop and adapted to be spaced from the lamp and from the hand. whereby the hand will be illuminated by the lamp and light will be projected through the lens.

at. A traffic signal comprising in combination a securing element adapted to encircle a plurality of fingers, an electric lamp socket secured thereto adapted to extend parallel to the fingers, a lamp in said socket. a wire loop having its ends bent parallel to the socket and secured thereto, a flange secured to the loop, a concave convex colored lens carried by the flange spaced from the lamp whereby the lamp may illuminate the hand and project rays through the lens and a spring switch mounted on said securing element, said switch having a straight portion adapted to be pressed by the thumb to make an electric contact.

In testimony whereoi I have signed my name to this specification. 

